Endocrine Drugs

Question 1

Endocrine System

Answer 1

Provides communication within the body and helps to regulate growth and development, reproduction, energy use, and electrolyte balance.

Question 2

Glands

Answer 2

The endocrine glands are collections of specialized cells that produce hormones that cause an effect at hormone-receptor sites.

Question 3

Hormones

Answer 3

Hormones are chemicals that are produced in the body
and that meet specific criteria.

1. Are produced in very small amounts
2. Are secreted directly into the bloodstream
3. Travel through the blood to specific receptor sites
   throughout the body
4. Act to increase or decrease the normal metabolic
   cellular processes when they react with their specific
   receptor sites
5. Are immediately broken down

Question 4

Hypothalamus

Answer 4

It is the coordinating center for the nervous and endocrine responses to internal and external stimuli.

Question 5

Pituitary Gland

Answer 5

It is located in the skull in the bony sella turcica under a layer of dura mater. It is divided into three lobes: an anterior lobe, a posterior lobe, and an intermediate lobe.

Anterior Pituitary:
-produces six major hormones: GH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), folliclestimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, P

Question 5

Pituitary Gland

Answer 5

It is located in the skull in the bony sella turcica under a layer of dura mater. It is divided into three lobes: an anterior lobe, a posterior lobe, and an intermediate lobe.

Anterior Pituitary:
-produces six major hormones: GH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, PRL, and thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Posterior pituitary:

-stores two hormones that are produced by the hypothalamus and deposited in the posterior lobe via the nerve axons where they are produced.

Question 6

Oxytoxin

Answer 6

-Used to initiate labor, promote delivery of placenta and control post-partum hemorrhage

1. ADVERSE EFFECT: hypersensitivity, cardiovascular spasm, hypotension, N&V
2. CONTRAINDICATION: non-vertex fetal presentation, fetal distress

Question 7

Drugs affecting Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Answer 7

1. GROWTH HORMONE AGONISTS - The anterior pituitary hormone that is most commonly used pharmacologically is GH. GH is responsible for linear skeletal growth, the growth of internal organs, protein synthesis, and the stimulation of many other processes that are required for normal growth.
2. GROWTH HORMONE ANTAGONISTS - GH hypersecretion is usually caused by pituitary tumors and can occur at any time of life. This is often referred to as hyperpituitarism.

Question 8

Glucocorticoids

Answer 8

1. Hydrocortisone
   -synthetic steroid identical to cortisol
   -Preferred drug for adrenocortical
   insufficiency
   -Has mineralocorticoid actions
   -Has oral prep for chronic replacement;
   parenteral for acute
2. Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Cortisone
   -oral therapy for chronic adrenal
   insufficiency
3. Dexamethasone
   -Used to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome
   -Treatment of non-endocrine disorders